Louisiana rice industry annual meeting set for Jan. 10

The Louisiana Rice Council (LARC) and Louisiana Rice Growers Association (LARGA) will hold their joint annual membership meeting on Thursday, Jan. 10, at the International Rice Festival Building in Crowley, La.

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The Louisiana Rice Council (LARC) and Louisiana Rice Growers Association (LARGA) will hold their joint annual membership meeting on Thursday, Jan. 10, at the International Rice Festival Building in Crowley, La.

The featured speaker will be Louisiana Congressman Charles W. Boustany, Jr. MD.

Clarence Berken, LARC President, and John Owen, LARGA President, will provide updates on their organization’s activities.

Betsy Ward, USA Rice Federation President and CEO, will report on the federation’s activities and promotional achievements.

Mike Strain, Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner, will address issues of concern to the Louisiana rice industry.

“This meeting provides an annual report to rice farmers on programs funded by the Louisiana rice promotion check-off as well as timely information on other important issues,” said Owen, a rice farmer from Richland Parish. “I encourage all rice industry stakeholders to attend.”

The meeting will be held at the International Rice Festival Building, 717 West Mill Street in Crowley. The event will begin with a reception and an expanded trade show devoted exclusively to rice-related equipment, technology, products and services at 4:30 p.m. That will be followed by the business session, industry reports, dinner and the featured speaker. The program should conclude at 7:45 p.m.